Prayer for God’s Mercy upon the Nation.

For the music director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

85 Lord, You showed (A)favor to Your land;
You (B)restored the fortunes of Jacob.
You (C)forgave the guilt of Your people;
You (D)covered all their sin. Selah
You (E)withdrew all Your fury;
You (F)turned away from Your burning anger.

(G)Restore us, God of our salvation,
And (H)cause Your indignation toward us to cease.
Will (I)You be angry with us forever?
Will You prolong Your anger to [a]all generations?
Will You not [b](J)revive us again,
So that Your people may (K)rejoice in You?
Show us Your mercy, Lord,
And (L)grant us Your salvation.

[c]I will hear what God the Lord will say;
For He will (M)speak peace to His people, to His godly ones;
And may they not (N)turn back to [d]foolishness.
Certainly (O)His salvation is near to those who [e]fear Him,
That (P)glory may dwell in our land.
10 (Q)Graciousness and [f]truth have met together;
(R)Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
11 [g]Truth (S)sprouts from the earth,
And righteousness looks down from heaven.
12 Indeed, (T)the Lord will give what is good,
And our (U)land will yield its produce.
13 (V)Righteousness will go before Him
And will make His footsteps into a way.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 85:5 Lit generation and generation
  2. Psalm 85:6 Or bring to life
  3. Psalm 85:8 Or Let me hear
  4. Psalm 85:8 I.e., foolish self-confidence
  5. Psalm 85:9 Or revere
  6. Psalm 85:10 Or faithfulness
  7. Psalm 85:11 Or Faithfulness

Psalm 85

For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah.

Lord, you poured out blessings on your land!
    You restored the fortunes of Israel.[a]
You forgave the guilt of your people—
    yes, you covered all their sins. Interlude
You held back your fury.
    You kept back your blazing anger.

Now restore us again, O God of our salvation.
    Put aside your anger against us once more.
Will you be angry with us always?
    Will you prolong your wrath to all generations?
Won’t you revive us again,
    so your people can rejoice in you?
Show us your unfailing love, O Lord,
    and grant us your salvation.

I listen carefully to what God the Lord is saying,
    for he speaks peace to his faithful people.
    But let them not return to their foolish ways.
Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,
    so our land will be filled with his glory.

10 Unfailing love and truth have met together.
    Righteousness and peace have kissed!
11 Truth springs up from the earth,
    and righteousness smiles down from heaven.
12 Yes, the Lord pours down his blessings.
    Our land will yield its bountiful harvest.
13 Righteousness goes as a herald before him,
    preparing the way for his steps.

Footnotes

  1. 85:1 Hebrew of Jacob. See note on 44:4.